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health sciences Hooked, genetically Researchers of the University of Michigan, usa, have cracked the genetic secrets of nicotine addiction. Whether or not one gets hooked to smoking is dependent on a particular variant of a gene

Kartyk Venkatraman

The arrest and conviction of Czech entomologists Dr Petr Svacha and Emil Kucera for collecting insect specimens without prior Government authorisation from the Darjeeling forest area has virtually pitted the scientific community in India against the lawmakers. Ever since 2002, when the stringent Biological Diversity Act, 2002, was enacted, scientists have been railing against its provisions which, they claim, are stymying research while aiming at conservation.

environmental sciences Climate change indicators One of uk

Czech scientist let off with fine - Associate sentenced to 3 years

Hyderabad, Sept. 2: A rare Black Widow spider was found at L B Nagar and Meerpet in the outskirts of the city recently. The spider is venomous and has been responsible for several deaths in America and Australia.
Wildlife biologists have approached the National History Museums in America and Australia to identify the species.

Prize Catch
* The Eastern Himalayas and Western Ghats are prime hunting grounds for smugglers of rare Indian butterflies and beetles
* They're in demand internationally for private collections, butterfly parks, traditional medicine, and also to be encased into jewellery

two Czech nationals, arrested on June 23 for allegedly collecting insects without proper permission from the Singalila National Park in Darjeeling, moved bail petitions for a second time in a Darjeeling court on July 21. But the appeal could not be heard due to lawyers

VIVEK CHHETRI

Svacha in Darjeeling on Monday. (Suman Tamang)
Darjeeling, July 28: A scientist for whose release his peers across the world had launched a campaign is now afraid that he might lose his job once he goes back to his country.

KENDRAPARA: Swarming caterpillars (Leda) have damaged large tracts of paddy saplings in the district badly hitting economic backbone of thousands of farmers.

"Help from the administration, however, is yet to reach the villagers more than three weeks after the first swarm of insects arrived here. The insects are black in colour and measuring less than an inch in length. Most of the crops have been destroyed in the area," said Gayadhar Dhal, secretary of Kendrapara District Krusaka Sabha.